Steelers coach Mike Tomlin first met his newest inside linebacker, Avery Williamson, when he attended Bud Dupree's pro day at Kentucky in 2014. He remembered him as a "football junkie," a player who has a passion for football.
Tomlin also thinks Williamson, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Jets on Sunday night, should transition fairly easily to the Steelers defense because he played under Dick LeBeau during his four years with the Tennessee Titans.
But Tomlin left no doubt on Tuesday what role he has in mind for Williamson — and it is not to step in for Robert Spillane as the replacement for injured Devin Bush.
"We have a vision of him being a third inside linebacker, a guy that's position flexible, a guy that is capable of supporting Robert and Vince (Williams) and being available should anything happen to them," Tomlin said at his weekly news conference.
Tomlin said he is not sure when Williamson will be available to the Steelers because of the COVID-19 procedures, but he is attending meetings virtually until at least Saturday. It's possible he could be in uniform when the Steelers try to start 8-0 for the first time in franchise history when they play the Dallas Cowboys (2-6) on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
"We don't have the answer to his availability. A lot will be determined by the process this week, the teaching and learning process, which will be challenged because of the COVID protocol. We will be working with him remotely until Saturday, but also, some of the other things that are going on around at his position will be a factor at whether or not we attempt to do that."
One of the reasons to trade for Williamson was the concern about the lower back injury to inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III. But the lack of experience at that position is a major factor, as well.
However, Spillane, an undrafted free agent who had never started an NFL game until Bush sustained a season-ending knee injury, has made several significant plays the past two games, including his 33-yard interception return for touchdown in Sunday's 28-24 victory in Baltimore.
That was the highlight of Spillane's performance in a game in which he had a team-high 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
But adding Williamson at such a low price — a fifth-round selection in 2022 — only made sense.
"At the trade deadline, we thought it was necessary if we had an opportunity to get a known commodity, one like Avery Williamson that we are somewhat familiar with and is somewhat familiar with our schematics, and put him into the fold," Tomlin said. "With as much ball that we have that lies ahead, it was a prudent thing for us to do. We're excited about having him.
"He's a football lover. He's a football junkie, if you will. I've followed him throughout the course of his career because of that. He played down in Tennessee and played in a system that was very similar to ours, not only in terms of how it was constructed but the language itself. He's a guy that fortifies depth in an area in which we have been challenged recently."
'No issue' with protocols
The Steelers' haven't had any positive tests since Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey announced the day after the game that he tested positive for the coronavirus.
And even though the Steelers are under what the league terms "intensive protocol," Tomlin said it won't affect his team's preparation for the Cowboys.
Under those guidelines, the Steelers can still hold their daily practices, though all players and coaches have to wear masks. But all meetings must be held virtually unless held outdoors or in a team's bubble.
"It won't be an excuse in any way, I'll say that," Tomlin said. "We've acknowledged from the very onset of this thing we have to have a hardcore plan, but we have to be light on our feet. We have to work at learning and learning to prepare in different ways."
Under an agreement between the league and the players' union after the Tennessee Titans outbreak, players undergo a PCR test Sunday morning before the game, but the results of the test aren't often available until that night or Monday morning. That, apparently, is what happened with Humphrey.
"Let me be clear here — I am extremely pleased with the efforts of the National Football League in response to the pandemic and the steps that we are taking continually," Tomlin said. "They are continually growing and changing and developing as needed. I have no issue with what we are doing in that area."
